International Crane Foundation Focuses Conservation Efforts in South Asia
ICF strengthens its research and conservation work in South Asia by naming K. S. Gopi Sundar, Ph.D. as the Program Director for the new SarusScape Program starting in January 2012. The SarusScape Program focuses on the world’s tallest flying bird, the Sarus Crane, which is one of 11 crane species threatened with extinction. The new program will build on the strong cultural values towards cranes that have served to secure vital wetlands for the Sarus Cranes in India over the millennia.
Wildlife conservation is rife with attempts to maintain “pristine wilderness” as we struggle to preserve Earth’s wonderful biodiversity. Efforts to conserve many crane species, however, require a very different approach. Sarus Cranes in north India, for example, are found mostly in a heavily populated and intensively cultivated landscape in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This landscape has had very high human populations for centuries, and was converted almost entirely to smallholder farmer systems at least 300 years ago. Clearly, in such an area, attempting to get land solely for wildlife is not possible given the very high human densities (> 800 people per sq. km.!), and their need for agricultural land.